Interview
Patrick Planter
Photography isn't just a passion. It's an artistic way of life. Born and raised on the green shores of Jamaica, Patrick Planter has managed to sculpt his lifelong dream of becoming an artist into capturing the reality of his own professionally picturesque endeavour, redefining his skillset as a fine art photographer and photojournalist. His works express simplicity fused with visually stimulating imagery, while depending predominantly on originality, both in angles and composition. This element of uniqueness in composition is what distinguishes a Patrick Planter photograph from his other contemporaries. His professional portfolio portrays his main strength: largely portraiture. But also highlights great works in abstract, landscape and documentary photography. Planter got his scholastic start at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts where he trained with renowned Jamaican photographer Donnette Zacca who introduced him to the profession. Notably, he includes Zacca’s work as one of his main inspirations. He is the former Membership Coordinator and Artistic Director of the Edna Manley College Photography Club.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I started in 2011 with photography doing the bare minimum of just personal photoshoots and selected events. I remember doing an additional course in photography at the Edna Manley College in Jamaica and my teacher and mentor Donnette Zacca gave me a talk on fine art photography showing us her exhibitions and what it was about. I was totally sold from that point. My first public exhibition was a the JCDC visual art competition 2013 where I entered with a piece called ‘moist’ which won a Bronze award. At that point it motivated me to continue year after year coming up with concepts, shooting and entering. One year, I won double silver and the second place jury prize, up until 2018 before I won my Gold award finally in that art competition using photography as my medium. Moving from Jamaica to Switzerland, everything just continued to be better on a bigger platform.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My work, I would say, is more story telling and with the body of work I have called ‘Overstanding’ with my niece as the model Samoya Cooke, its more on the uplifting side of things, each image or series have a different topic I would say. My latest body of work, ‘Shades,’ explores the intersection of color, shape, and emotion through a series of abstract compositions. I aim to provoke a range of feelings in the viewer, from meditative calm to intense energy, by manipulating hues, forms, and textures. Each piece is a visual journey that encourages the viewer to explore the depths of their own emotions and to find their own path to meditation. Using colors like red, blue, orange, purple, yellow, green, turquoise, black, grey, pink, I’ve created a series of work that aims to stimulate the viewer’s mind and soul, inviting them to engage with the pieces on a deeper level. Interacting shapes and color to create a total different perspective to the viewer causing them to question this whole acting of creativity.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“It’s always a thought process for me, and then when everything comes together, it always end with a good result. Sometimes, I get inspired by other artists, other times it’s just by walking, talking or just riding the bus or train until ideas come to mind. It’s all a process for me; turning that thought into reality.”
“I explore the interplay of colors and their impact, often incorporating a sense of luminescence to create depth and evoke emotions.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“Well the bottom-line is photography. When you first see my work, many may think it’s graphic but when they see the whole process they are like ‘wow, such simple technique with great results!’ My main tool is the camera and the lightboard. My material is photo colour gels where I do my cutouts on to make the assembly which I merge in the photograph.”
What does your art mean to you?
“My art in general makes me feel very proud of myself. Every time I exhibit, every time someone comments on the work I put out there, and every time some one buy one of my work - it’s a very overwhelming feeling and all that motivates you to try harder to be the best at what you do as a creative.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“I would say this body of work I'm on now since 2020, this body of work the shade series open a lot of doors give me the opportunity to collaborate with other artists as well as my self with my own photos. The work becomes more of a conversation piece when they hear of the process of the final result. So, I would say all the current works in the shade series.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Well currently, I'm in an exhibition in Zürich Switzerland at the Ngala Gallery which I only have 3 fine art pieces in that I will be closing out the year with and entering into the new years with until March 2025.”
